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Article

28 Nov 2018

Author:
Dana Drugmand, Climate Liability News

Canada: Govt. to face youth-led lawsuit over insufficient action on climate change

"Canada Faces Latest Youth-Led Climate Lawsuit", 27 Nov 2018

Canada is likely to be the next national government to face a climate lawsuit launched by young people.  The class action suit was announced by a Canadian environmental nonprofit...on behalf of all the citizens of Quebec under the age of 35.  It challenges the Canadian government for insufficient action on climate change...Like other climate cases targeting national governments, this one argues that the Canadian government’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are insufficient.  Failing to take aggressive action to avoid catastrophic climate change, the complaint contends, violates the fundamental rights of young people...to life, inviolability and security, and...the right to live in a healthful environment.

“The Canadian government’s behaviour infringes on several fundamental rights protected by the Canadian and Quebec charters,” attorney Bruce Johnston of Trudel Johnston & Lespérance said.  That behavior includes continuing to support fossil fuel production and infrastructure despite stark scientific reports calling for an urgent transition away from coal, oil and gas to avoid the most devastating climate impacts. “Instead of accelerating a green transition, Canada is subsidizing oil companies and purchasing a pipeline in our name,” said Catherine Gauthier, executive director of ENJEU...